Lobelia plant named &#39;LOCLA02-0&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Lobelia erinus  cultivar named ‘LOCLA02-0’ is disclosed, characterized by very well-branched, compact plants. Flowers are large and distinctively bright lavender purple with a white throat. Foliage is attractive dark green under high light conditions. The new variety is a  Lobelia , and is normally used as an ornamental garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Lobelia erinus.

Variety denomination: ‘LOCLA02-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of a breeding program, with the object to develop floriferous compact Lobelia varieties for commercial applications. The new variety originated from a an open pollination of the seed parent, Lobelia erinus ‘Africo Sky’, with unidentified pollinators. The open pollination resulting in the new variety was made June 2013 at a research greenhouse in Dresden, Germany.

The new variety was selected by the inventor, during June of 2014 at a research nursery in greenhouse in Dresden, Germany. After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor continued confidential testing and propagation of ‘LOCLA02-0’ assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘LOCLA02-0’ was first performed in Dresden, Germany by vegetative terminal cuttings in August of 2014. ‘LOCLA02-0’ has since been reproduced over multiple generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘LOCLA02-0’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘LOCLA02-0’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘LOCLA02-0’ as a new and distinct Lobelia erinus cultivar:

-   -   1. Large flowers.     -   2. Compact plant habit.     -   3. Bright purple flowers with a white throat.     -   4. Improved branching.     -   5. Attractive dark foliage when exposed to directly sunlight.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOCLA02-0’ are similar to the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics. The new variety, however, differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety produces bright lavender flowers compared to         the blue flower of the seed parent     -   2. Plants of the new variety are more compact than plants of the         comparator.

The pollen parent is unidentified.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOCLA02-0’ are similar to plants of the commercial variety, Lobelia erinus ‘Africo Lavender’, unpatented in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘LOCLA02-0’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety are more compact than this         comparator.     -   2. Plants of the new variety produces larger flowers than those         of this comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOCLA02-0’ are similar to plants of the commercial variety, Lobelia erinus ‘Weslodala’, patent status unconfirmed, in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘LOCLA02-0’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety produce larger flowers than this         comparator.     -   2. Plants of the new variety produce more branches than plants         of this comparator.     -   3. Flower color of the new variety is lighter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘LOCLA02-0’ grown in a greenhouse and photographed in April. The pot size is a commercial 8 inch pot. The plant shown is approximately 16 weeks old.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of flowers of the new variety, photographed during April. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘LOCLA02-0’ plants grown in a commercial controlled greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 28° C. during the day and 18° C. to 22° C. at night. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Lobelia erinus ‘LOCLA02-0’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 8 to 14 days at approximately             25° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, colored near RHS Greyed-Orange             165D. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Mounded flowering annual.         -   Plant spread.—50 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate to rapid.         -   Branching characteristics.—Very well branched.         -   Length of primary lateral branches.—Average range 8 to 18             cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—3 mm.         -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—About 230.         -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Form: Round.             Color: Near RHS Green 138A, flushed Greyed-Purple N186C or             N186D. Texture: Short, somewhat rough, dense pubescence.             Strength: Moderately flexible and strong.         -   Internode length.—Average range 1.0 to 2.0 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Alternate. Quantity: Approximately 8 to             18 per branch. Average Length: 2.5 to 3.5 cm. Average Width:             7 to 10 mm. Shape of blade: Lanceolate to narrow elliptic.             Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Sparse, shallow             irregularly shaped dentations. Texture of top surface:             Somewhat rough pubescence. Texture of bottom surface:             Somewhat rough pubescence. Aspect: Slightly undulating.             Color: Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137B flushed             N186C. Young foliage under side: RHS Green 138A. Mature             foliage upper side: RHS Green 137C, heavily flushed N186C.             Mature foliage under side: RHS Green 137C, heavily flushed             N186C. Venation: Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side:             RHS Green 143C. Venation color under side: RHS Green 137C.             Petiole: Sessile. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering occurs continuously             during growing season from spring until fall under Southern             California climatic conditions. Flowering begins             approximately 3 weeks after planting a rooted cutting.         -   Flower type and habit.—Flowers arranged singly at lateral             apices.         -   Number of flowers per plant.—Approximately 500.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Longevity.—Depending on weather conditions, 7-14 days for             single flower. Flowering season for the entire plant lasts             approximately 250 days.         -   Flower size.—Overall Length: 1.7 cm. Overall Width: 2.5 cm.             Tube length: 1.1 cm. Diameter: Distal end: 4 mm. Proximal             end: 3 mm.         -   Flower shape and petal arrangement.—Tubular with three             larger lower petals and two upright petals.         -   Bud.—Shape: Conical with a distal sphere. Length: 1.4 cm.             Diameter: 7 mm. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Purple N187D, upper             section Green-White 157A, distal sphere flushed Violet 83B.         -   Corolla.—Petals/lobes: Number: 5 total, 3 large lower and 2             smaller upper petals. Upper petals: Length: 11 mm. Width:             4 mm. Lower petals: Length: 1.4 cm. Width: 0.9 cm. Shape:             Obovate. Aspect: Slightly undulate. Margin: Entire, slightly             undulate. Texture: Smooth. Color:         -   Upper petals.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS             Purple-Violet N81A. Lower surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet             N82B, mid vein and blotches N81A. Fully opened: Upper             surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N81A, very slightly flushed             Violet 83A. Lower surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N82B, mid             vein and blotches N81A.         -   Lower petals.—When opening: Upper surface: Central section             of all petals together near White N155A, irregularly             blotched N82C. Outer edge of side petals near Purple-Violet             N82C flushed Violet 83D. Lower surface: Central section of             all petals together near White N155A, irregularly blotched             N82B and N82C. Outer edge of side petals near Purple-Violet             N82B flushed 82A and Violet 83B. Fully opened: Upper             surface: Central section of all petals together near White             N155A, irregularly blotched N82C. Outer edge of side petals             near Purple-Violet N82C. Lower surface: Central section of             all petals together near White N155A, irregularly blotched             N82B and N82C. Outer edge of side petals near Purple-Violet             N82D flushed N82A. Throat: Color: Near RHS White N155D,             flushed Violet 83A. Texture: Glabrous. Tube color: Interior:             Near RHS Purple-Violet N82C. Exterior: Near RHS             Purple-Violet N82A.         -   Calyx.—Form: Star-shaped structure composed of 5 sepals             fused at base. Length: 0.9 cm. Diameter: 1.0 cm. Sepal             shape: Lanceolate. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture:             Lightly pubescent all surfaces. Sepal color: Upper surface:             Near Green 137A heavily flushed Violet 83A. Lower surface:             Near Green 137A heavily flushed Violet 83A.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.0 cm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm.             Color: Green 137C, flushed Purple N79A. Texture: Rough             pubescence. Aspect: Undulating. Strength: Soft, flexible. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number (per flower): 5, fused. Filament length:             8 mm. Anthers: Shape: Oblong. Length: 1.5 mm. Color: Near             RHS Greyed-Purple N187B. Pollen: Color: Near RHS             Greyed-Purple N187D. Amount: Scant to none.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Length: 8 mm. Style:             Length: 7 mm. Color: Near RHS White N155B. Stigma: Shape:             Linear. Color: RHS Purple-Violet N82A. Color: Near RHS             Greyed-Yellow 161D. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Not observed to date.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to diseases or pests has been observed in             this variety.         -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates             temperatures from approximately −5° to 35-8° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant named ‘LOCLA02-0’ as herein illustrated and described. 